ATO launches in-app voice authentication

In an attempt to improve access to online services, the ATO has introduced voice authentication within the ATO app.

mitchell

December 02, 2015

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The decision comes after the use of voice authentication by the tax office to verify taxpayers' identities over the phone for the past year.

According to the ATO, more than 1.3 million taxpayers have enrolled their voiceprints and have been using their voiceprints to authenticate themselves when calling the ATO.

Assistant commissioner John Dardo stated that the extension of voice authentication to the mobile app provides a means for individuals and sole traders to access the ATO's online services faster and easier.

"With people using their smartphones and tablets for their day-to-day tasks more than ever, we wanted to make it as easy as possible for clients to use our services on their devices," said Mr Dardo.

"To enrol your voiceprint, just open the individual's section of the app, select online services, log into your myGov account and follow the prompts. Save your voiceprint to your device and next time you can use your voice to log in. You can then also use your voiceprint to verify your identity if you need to phone us," he added.

Mr Dardo added that those taxpayers wishing to enrol their voiceprint within the ATO app would need to link the ATO to their myGov account.